Going to Amsterdam next week, any recommendations?

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Willeke

Here is a site that has very much information:
http://www.amsterdam.info/

There are links to museums and sights, places with music, for shopping, restaurants and hotels and hostels and ideas what to do in town for a day or longer.

Do not bother to go to the bulb fields, nothing to be seen in February, better go to the flower market on Singel, the end farthest from the station.

Walk along the canals, the ones in the oldest part in town (now mostly red light district,) and those in the ring, (on the outside of the old towns.)
Visit a traditional cafe, you will find them on many corners of the town, they serve mostly alcoholic drinks but also soft drinks, get a hot chocolate (with a dash of something alcoholic if you want.)
Visit a museum or two, select one that attracts you.
Do not go to Anne Franks house unless you have read the book, (or really want to go.) There are many more museums from small to big, showing things from ancient to modern, from just admire to interactive technology.

If you like shopping, most of the center of Amsterdam has shops, the site I mentioned above has several links, but just walking around you will already see many shops.

Have dinner in an Indonesian/Chinese restaurant, the Rice table is famous, for a good reason, buffet style with many dishes, often set on your own table.
If you are a small eater, or for lunch, try pancakes the Dutch way.

You can of course do what seems most tourist do, get stoned and visit one of the ladies, but only for a minority of the tourist in Amsterdam that is a reason to come.
But if you do just that you will miss most of what Amsterdam has to offer.

charleywhite_uk

Hi,

Ive stayed in amsterdam 3 times now and my favourite place to stay was the Ibis hotel which is located near the amsterdam train station and only a few minutes walk from the redlight area and bars

we paid Â£60 a night and its was a nice room..

the other 2 times i stayed there i really didnt like it, it was horrible rooms and very noisey!

stay in the ibis hotel which is located 2 minutes from the amsterdam central station you cant miss it!

fiddler

Take plenty of money.Bloody expensive.If you don't.Stay on the
canals.

annabel m

spend one day there, then go somewhere else in that country, which is usually overlooked, yet so different to amsterdam

Brittany M

My last trip to the Netherlands was in November. I stayed in the golden tulip centre (also called hotel intell) and it was nice and not to expensive. Keep in mind that alot of places close at 6 or 7pm when its not travel season. Also it gets dark early, so plan on waking up early. The first time i went i saw the rijksmuseum and Anne Franks house and took a canal ride. One time i went to the Red Light District and it was a lil sketchy so plan on going when its daylight. If you wanna go to a "coffeeshop" then i can't recommend any in specific because they are EVERYWHERE. If you can, travel outside of Amsterdam. Some really good towns to go to are Delft, Gouda, and Volendam. They all have different atmospheres and are highly recommended! It's simple...all you do is go to central station, buy a ticket (usually around 10 euros roudtrip) and catch the train. Have fun!

Ben W

Were all off to Dam in March, i was wondering are there plenty of groups of women there?

I mean its not just all stags do's and groups of lads is it (obvisouly i know the majority will be) but i was just wondering if there are plenty of women about to pull in clubs?

Just thinking ahead!!

My Grain

You're leaving it very late for a booking if you need to do it on the cheap.Amsterdam has got quite pricey over the years and there's a shortage of cheap hotels.I would suggest just getting a cheap tent and camping,it's very cheap.Head for the one in North Amsterdam as it's close to the centre.
http://www.amsterdam.info/camping/
Head for Vliegenbos.

you have to go to the red light district, what you do there is up to you, but its a tourist attraction, its a novelty just to see what its like.

The bulb fields are also good to see, if you get the chance go to the improvisation club, it is very funny (a bit like who's line is it anyway)

and yes they do have clubs with live sex shows, and if you do go to a coffee shop, do understand some of the cakes have "something extra"